Iron Powder Third Body Contribution to Friction Performance of Copper-Matrix Friction Composites

Abstract

Iron third body contribution to friction performance of copper-matrix friction composites was explored by adding prefabricated iron powder into the friction surface. Friction tests were carried out under a sliding speed (V) range of 1.57–23.55 m/s and contact pressures (P) of 0.25–0.51 MPa by a pin-on-disc tribometer. These showed that an iron third body increased the friction coefficient when P • V <2 75, and the average friction coefficient increment was 0.04 (7.29%). The reason was that iron third bodies played the role of abrasives, promoting an engaging force between the friction couple. When P • V > 275, the average friction coefficient decrement was 0.04 (8.59%). This was because of oxidation of the iron third body, such that a smooth and dense oxide film was formed on the surface, assisting in a friction coefficient reduction.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Iron powder
• third body
• friction coefficient

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 51241003), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant no. 2016YFB 0301403), and the Key Projects of Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning and Doctor Start-up Fund of Liaoning (grant no. 20170520155).